Milwaukee, Wis.-Seven of the Rockford IceHogs top 11 point producers were not in the line up on Saturday at the Bradley Center against the Milwaukee Admirals, but that didn’t stop the team from notching their first four goal effort in over two months.

Carter Hutton made 22 saves and held Milwaukee to one goal for a fifth straight meeting as Rockford topped the Ads 4-1. Rockford hadn’t notched more than three goals in a game since a 6-5 overtime in Texas on Jan. 8, a span of 23 games.

Winger Chris DiDomenico completed an impressive IceHogs forecheck sequence in the first period when he picked up a Brandon Svendsen centering feed and swiped his second marker of the season past Jeremy Smith at 13:11 to give the Hogs a 1-0 lead.

Neither team was whistled for a penalty in the first period on Saturday, but there were four minor infractions handed out on each side in the second. Both clubs had three power-play chances, but neither team cashed in and the game was 1-0 Rockford heading into the third frame.

After Rockford failed to convert on their fourth power play on the night, Svendsen would extend the IceHogs lead while even strength. Matt Fornataro flipped a puck to the Admirals zone and Svendsen raced it down and slapped his second goal of the campaign from the right circle over the glove of Smith at 5:33.

Rockford’s two goal lead was reduced just seven seconds into Milwaukee’s fourth power play later in the third stanza. Victor Bartley crossed a pass to Jonathan Blum at the left point and the d-man blasted his fourth goal on the campaign past Hutton at 6:20.

The momentum didn’t stay on Milwaukee’s side long as Rockford got the goal back at 9:23. Marc-Olivier Vallerand found Philippe Paradis on the left wing in the Admirals zone and the rookie winger knocked in his third goal of the season past Smith to make it 3-1.

Peter LeBlanc iced the game with an empty net goal at 19:15, his 19th marker on the season.

Rockford has now picked up points in seven straight games (6-0-0-1), matching a season high. The two clubs will complete a home-and-home set in Rockford on Sunday.
Next Home Game: Sunday, March 11 vs. Milwaukee: The 13th annual IceHogs jersey auction is Sunday night as Rockford takes on the Admirals. Puck drop is at 5:05 p.m. This year’s theme is “Rock Vegas” and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a deck of IceHogs poker cards sponsored by Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall. There will be a live auction on the ice after the game for fans to win the special “Rock Vegas” jerseys worn by the IceHogs. The band “Dirty Fishnet Stockings” will perform before, during and after the game.